Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

Lucia scored 27 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 24 games for Wayzata in 2004-05, his junior year of high school. At the end of the season Lucia played for the River City Lancers of the USHL, playing 11 games and scoring 1 goal. Lucia will forego his senior year at Wayzata to play for the Lancers and advance his career. Born Aug. 23, 1987, Lucia was the youngest player selected by the Sharks in the 2005 Draft, and barely 18 years old, Lucia has already garnered interest from NCAA teams.

Tony's father is Don Lucia, University of Minnesota head coach. Lucia the elder has won two NCAA Championships with the Golden Gophers in 2002 and 2003 and was the WCHA Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1996 with Colorado College. With one of the top coaches in all of college hockey as a father, Tony Lucia has an advantage most prospects do not have, but the Minnesota native is still making it on his own merit.

2007-08: This was Lucia’s sophomore season with the University of Minnesota (WCHA). He played in 44 of the club’s 45 games. He scored the double overtime goal and had an assist in 3-2 win over Minnesota State in the third game of the WCHA playoff series on Mar. 16. He tallied 12 of his 18 points over the last 23 games. He had a +6 plus/minus rating over the team’s final 13 games of the season. He played left wing on the team’s first through third lines.
2008-09: In his third year with the University of Minnesota(WCHA), Tony Lucia scored 9 goals and added 8 assists. Through his 34 games he also picked up 43 PIMs.

2009-10: This season proved to be a big year for Lucia. He set a career high in goals, assists, and points in his final season at the University of Minnesota, tallying 28 points. He also cut down his penalty minutes, receiving just 22 in his 39 games. At the end of the season Lucia turned pro and finished the year with the Worcester Sharks(AHL). Lucia scored his first and as-of-yet only pro goal in his 4 regular season games. Lucia also suited up in 1 playoff game, going pointless.

2010-11: Lucia skated in just two games for the AHL's Worcester Sharks – missing the season after suffering a concussion.

Talent Analysis

Lucia's primary asset is his hockey sense. A playmaker with strong passing skills, Lucia also forechecks, backchecks, block shots, and lays outs hits from time to time as well. Concerns about his size once existed, but he is now 6'0 175 pounds. One area Lucia needs to improve on is his quickness and acceleration. He has decent top speed, but just needs quicker feet and needs to make sure he keeps his feet moving.

Future

Should Lucia make it to the NHL, it would likely be as a third or fourth line player. Lucia will have to improve his speed, quickness, and acceleration to become a third line AHLer.